QB derby: Seahawks looking into options

Quarterback Derek Anderson, released Tuesday by the Browns, reportedly will visit the Seahawks on Thursday. (Getty Images/Jim McIsaac)

The Seattle Seahawks are moving aggressively in their search to replace backup quarterback Seneca Wallace.

According to various reports, the Seahawks are bringing former Cleveland starter Derek Anderson in for a visit on Thursday and also have been calling the Philadelphia Eagles about the potential availability of Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb.

What does it all mean? For one, the Seahawks haven’t settled on the idea of just drafting a rookie quarterback to develop behind Matt Hasselbeck for a year or two.

Secondly, they are willing to look under every rock for ways to improve the team right now, even if it means taking some chances.

McNabb obviously is the biggest name in the bunch, but he’s 33 and heading into the final year of his contract. The Eagles have insisted he remains their starting quarterback, but just extended Michael Vick’s contract and also have young Kolb waiting in the wings.

Anderson is more available at this point and thus a more likely acquisition after the Browns released him rather than pay a $2 million roster bonus that was upcoming.

At 26, he has been erratic in his three years as a starter, but he does possess a strong arm and the ability to put up big numbers in the right situation. He’s also a Northwest guy who grew up in Portland and played at Oregon State and would obviously welcome a fresh start.

After being released by the Browns, Anderson sent an e-mail response to the News-Herald in Ohio saying: “The fans are ruthless and don’t deserve a winner. I will never forget getting cheered when I was injured. I know at times I wasn’t great. I hope and pray I’m playing when my team comes to town and (we) roll them.”

He then apologized for those remarks in a statement this morning:

“I said some things to Jeff Schudel (of The News-Herald) earlier that I regret. Those of you who got to know me personally from covering the Browns over the past five years, know this was out of character for me. I wasn’t taken out of context, but I was speaking out of my frustration after my career with the Browns came to a close.

“I had some great times playing in Cleveland, especially during the 2007 season and I met some great people and made many lifelong friends along the way. I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life.”

That chapter could be in Seattle, if the Seahawks feel he’s the right fit for Carroll’s offense.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports that the draft pick the Seahawks will receive in 2011 in the Wallace deal is a seventh-rounder that could improve to a No. 6 depending on how much he plays this coming season.